Edward gave no reason to Brownson for leaving except that he did not like the place however it is said that he gave his family another reason. which Brownson will not repeat because of his refusal to believe it. Henry is asked to write and explain the reason. The Radicals have made a clean sweep, and will be even stronger in the next Congress but Brownson does not believe that Butler will carry through his programme. The Constitutional Amendment will probably be insisted on and although Brownson does not like Andrew Johnson, he sees no ground for impeachment and the President asks no more of Congress than Congress yielded to Lincoln. The Virginia members of Congress were admitted because Mr. Pierrepoint's establishment at Wheeling was recognized by the Executive as the State of Virginia on the advice of Attorney-General Bates. Johnson claims to do no more than Lincoln. Bates maintained that it belongs to the Executive to determine whether a state is or is not a state of the Union while Congress judges of the election and qualification of members. In this case, Congress acquiesced with scarcely a disputing voice. In Brownson's opinion the Executive is wrong but Congress cannot now reclaim its decision without condemning itself. Lincoln was not censured and neither should be Johnson for following in his footsteps, and Brownson considers Johnson much less dangerous than Lincoln. If the papers are to be credited then Brownson's predictions in regard to Maximilian are already falsified but if he has abdicated there is yet no official proof. It seems that the government is proposing to buy off the French by paying them their demands on Mexico and then annexing Mexico. Congress' actions are very uncertain since the North still has nigger on the brain. The whole matter is a muddle and General Sherman with Mr. Minister Campbell may easily make it worse. Brownson's prediction was based on a letter from Mexico in the Tribune which showed good sense. Since the Herald came out for the constitutional amendment it has been a very good paper, and with a tremendous influence. Horace Greeley stands a good chance of succeeding Judge Harris in the Senate, and Brownson doesn't know whether the Herald is against Greeley or merely enjoying a laugh by ridiculing him. A war of Russia against Austria and an alliance of Prussia and Russia which the papers claim as certain are considered improbably by Brownson. Prussia aims to consolidate Germany under the Hohenzollerns and become a great maritime power in the North and Baltic Seas which will make her Russia's rival. Russia can fight Austria only on the Eastern Question, a problem which the other European powers will not allow opened. It will not be opened in the interest of Russia and hardly in the interest of the Eastern Christians themselves France wants Syria, Egypt, Tripoli and Tunis. Spain wants the Empire of Morocco which Great Britain will strongly resist. Greece wants Candia and all the other Greek Islands, Thessaly, Macedonia, Albania and Constantinople and is opposed by Britain, Italy and Austria but might be favored by France and Russia. Russia wants to drive the Turks out of Europe and Asia Minor and liberate the Christians and is opposed by other powers on the grounds that Russia would become too powerful. Great Britain wishes to protect her Indian population against Russia's advance from the northwest and France from the Southwest through Egypt and to the monopoly of trade of the whole Turkish Empire and all Upper or Central Asia as well as all Northern or Eastern Africa which has as rivals Greece, Spain, France, Austria, Italy and Russia. Prussia will probably exchange the Danubian principalities for the German portion of Austria; and Austria, the least dangerous power to her interests, will be allowed by Great Britain to extend eastward and absorb all the Slavonic provinces of Turkey. This will not be opposed by France and perhaps Prussia but will be opposed by Russia and Italy. Will Austria succeed and will Greece expand into a great power and absorb all the Christian populations of the East? None of the powers are prepared to broach these questions at present. Prussia is busy with her internal affairs, Great Britain with the Reform Question which is growing serious, Austria has to repair losses, Russia has not yet completed her railroads and France for the moment is without effective allies. Russia is best prepared but the whole diplomatic influence of Europe is against her moving. Brownson does not expect Russia to move immediately but when the question does come up, he expects the whole world, United States included, will take part. Henry is questioned concerning the pain in his side. Brownson is sorry that the exchange could not be effected with Rip but considers Henry as well off with M.G. as he would be with H. or De N. even though he is so far from Church. Brownson will not visit Henry before Spring because he has no decent clothes and can as yet get none. He expects a visit from Count Chabrae from France, a friend of Montalambert and anticipates learning something about the Emperor. Brownson hopes to get an engagement as American correspondent for Sir John Acton's new paper, destined to replace the late H F Revue. It is a weekly publication. Mrs. Brownson is in good health as well as Brownson's except he cannot get a shoe on either foot. Henry is told to keep up his courage and to visit home at Christmas if he can. :: III-3-a A.L.S. 4pp. 8vo.